• Published on

    Kurtis Lemay is Our Newest Zero to Hero!!

    From the very beginnings of Kurtis’s flight training, I think we all knew that he was bound for success. From earning the 2022 Reno Air Race Association scholarship for his private pilot license, taking off solo for this first time, crushing his private pilot checkride, soaring through the clouds of his instrument rating, mastering the art of commercial flying, and now we’re here today: Certified Flight Instructor! Kurtis has been with GBA from the very beginning and we’re happy to announce that he has successfully cleared yet another milestone—and a BIG one at that—and passed his CFI checkride! Kurtis, you’ve been battling lessons plans and fine tuning your skills in the right seat, and it’s all for this exact moment in time, you’ve done it! We’re so incredibly proud to have been a part of Kurtis’s aviation journey and we have no doubt he’ll do amazing things as he teaches the world of future aviators. Let’s give Kurtis and his flight instructor, Ryan Mill, a huge round of applause on this absolutely awesome accomplishment. We’re so happy for you Kurtis and we have no doubt that amazing things lie on the horizon for you. Awesome work!
    Picture
  • Published on

    Giovani Rodriguez Soloed!!

    If you’ve spent any time around KRNO lately, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the name Giovani Rodriguez—and for good reason! On the east side of the airport, the buzz is all about Giovani’s biggest milestone yet: he’s officially GBA’s newest solo pilot! That’s right—the always-smiling, ever-dedicated Giovani took to the skies solo this afternoon in N670CS at KRTS on runway 14! Awesome work Giovani! Now, if you’re hanging around the west side of the field, you probably know Giovani for another reason—his proud service with the Air National Guard. And if you work in the RNO Tower, at Atlantic Aviation, or in Airport Ops, well... you might remember him as the guy who unintentionally launched a phone recovery mission near the approach end of runway 35R. Let’s just say he’s now very thorough about checking for his phone before takeoff 😉. We love to joke with Giovani about that little adventure, but today, we’re celebrating something truly remarkable. Giovani, your dedication and passion for aviation have brought you to this incredible moment. You did it—you’re officially a solo pilot! And of course, hats off to his flight instructor, Eric Harned, who’s not only an excellent insturctor but now also an expert in phone searches and rescue services. Awesome work you guys!
    Picture
  • Published on

    Cameron Morrill is GBA's April Pilot of the Month!

    ⭐️CAMERON MORRILL⭐️

    He’s the man, he’s the myth, and he’s most definitely a legend, the one and only Cameron Morrill is GBA’s April Pilot of the Month! Cameron has summited the proverbial “solo mountain” and now he’s moved on to prepping for his private pilot checkride in the coming months (duh duh duhhhh!). Cameron has been a whirlwind of studying and flying these last couple of months, and while this award does recognize the effort that student’s put into their flight training, it also recognizes their overall character. Cameron always comes into his lessons prepared and with a positive attitude. He always knows how to put a smile on our faces in the office and he’s an absolute privilege to have around the school. We’re incredibly thrilled to recognize Cameron and his progress today with the very prestigious and of course the very highly acclaimed GBA pilot of the month award 😉. Cameron, you’ve been kicking flight training’s butt, and we have no doubt that you’re going to fly high and achieve absolutely incredible things. Keep up the amazing work, Cameron!
    Picture
  • Published on

    Joshua Pieters Soloed!!

    Grab your popcorn, kick up your feet, and cue the shows, because the master of relaxation, Joshua Pieters, decided to ditch his snuggy for some wings this morning and soloed at KRTS in N328ME on runway 8! Josh is one of the most laid-back and composed people you’ll ever meet. His calm, calculated approach to life translates effortlessly into his flying. Watching him in the cockpit, you'd think he’s been doing this for years. His confidence and smooth control in the plane quite literally made the whole flight look easy. But don’t let his chill demeanor fool you, Josh has been putting in the work, and today’s solo was a huge milestone in his journey. To make it even more special, his mom and dad were right there on the sidelines, watching proudly as he took off and landed like a pro. Josh, we have no doubt you’ll go far with your training and we’re so incredibly proud to share this amazing moment with you. Let’s give Josh and his partner in crime/ flight instructor, Shane Smith, and huge congratulations on this awesome accomplishment! Keep it up Josh and get out there and fly!
    Picture
  • Published on

    Chris Woodard Soloed!!

    We’ve had a few jacks-of-all-trades come through this school, but none quite like Christopher Woodard. Chris has worn more hats than most of us can count, from being a car mechanic, tow truck driver, ski instructor, the owner of a Caribbean yachting company, and now he’s the man keeping you safe, calm, and pain-free during surgery as an anesthesiologist! Chris is one of the most interesting guys I think we’ve ever met, and today, to put the cherry on top, Chris decided it was time to impress us all again by soloing in N328ME at none other than KRNO on runway 17L!! Chris Woodard was already amazing as is, but he easily just gained a new tier of awesomeness by dominating the realm of the skies! Chris, you have been training your heart out these last couple of months and it has been incredibly gratifying watching your progress through your flight training. Let’s give Chris and his flight instructor, Eric Harned, who has been with Chris every step of the way, a huge congratulations on this amazing achievement! When Chris isn’t flying, you can find him back country skiing, spending time with his lovely wife and two daughters, and watching the beautiful Northern Nevada sunrises. Awesome job Chris!
    Picture
  • Published on

    CJ Reese Soloed!!

    Big congrats to CJ Reese, who just soared into the solo spotlight here at KRNO on runway 35R! Hailing from the breathtaking heights of Colorado, CJ’s no stranger to altitude—but today he really took things to new heights. From pre-flight to touchdown, CJ handled it all like a pro, with smooth radio calls, a steady hand on the yoke, and landings that would make any instructor smile. When CJ's not in the cockpit, he’s adventuring on the ground with his wife and kids—usually somewhere off-grid, trading airspeed for hiking boots and a campfire. Whether it's land, water, or air, he’s got a need for exploration that can’t be grounded. With the expert guidance of his CFI, Eric Harned, CJ just took a huge leap toward his aviation dreams. This solo flight is just the beginning—next stop: checkride, and then who knows? Maybe bush flying, floatplanes, or even airline captain (hey, we’re not putting a ceiling on this guy).
    Picture